Ram Navami

Ram Navami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama in Ayodhya. Rama was the eldest son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya and was the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama is a legendary figure; he is an epitome of truth and goodness and represents the victory of good over evil. His birth is celebrated with great enthusiasm in all parts of the country.

Ram Navami History and Mythology:
Lord Rama is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu who came down to earth to battle Ravana. Lord Brahma had received complaints from all the gods about the havoc that Ravana was creating on earth, but because Ravana had so many boons, he could not be killed by a God. So Lord Vishnu descended to the earth in the form of Prince Rama.

King Dasharatha had three wives Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. Their greatest worry was that they had no children, which meant no heir to the throne. Rishi Vasistha suggested King Dusharatha to perform ‘Puthra Kamesthi Yagna’ so that he could have children. Maha Rishi Rishyasrunga came to Ayodhya to perform the yagna. As a result of the yagna Yagneshwar appeared and provided a bowl of Kheer to King Dashratha and told him to distribute it among his wives. The queens had their share of khaar and a few days later conceived.

On the ninth day of the last month of Vedic calendar (Chaithra masa) Kausalya gave birth to Rama at noon. This day is celebrated with great joy all over the country especially in the Northern part.
Celebrations:

Ram Navami falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar which is sometime in April. It marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations. At some places the festival lasts for complete nine days, the period is also called ‘Sri Rama Navaratra’.
Temples are elaborately decorated and traditional prayers are chanted. Special havans and large scale kirtans are organized. The occasion is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas.

Ram Navami Bhajans in praise of Lord Rama and his valour are sung. Images of infant form of Sri Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Prashad is distributed after the puja and aarti.
In South India, the day is also celebrated as Sitarama Kalyanam, the wedding anniversary of Sri Rama and his wife Sita. The wedding ceremony of the couple is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy.
Ayodhya , Bhadrachalam and Rameswaram are the three important places of celebration. Thousands of devotees visit these places on this occasion. Shobha yatras of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, are taken out at several places. Thousands of devotees take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu on this day.

Author: Ms Coutinho.

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